Taking the torch to spread the word about the Peter Max inspired 1972 Topps Baseball set...count down style.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

#400 Tony Oliva

A Minnesota Twin through and through....End
of one phase of an amazing run......a career rescued just in time by the new DH
rule....injured an already fragile knee at the end of June 1971.....story has
it he fell on a sprinkler head... still held on to be AL batting champ...the
lingering effects however virtually wiped out 1972 season.....Amazing 1964
debut, taking the AL batting crown and Rookie of the Year honors....Repeated
batting crown in 1965...next three years (falling in the second dead ball era)
Tony finished in the top 10 in batting...nifty run of 8 consecutive all star
games....starting in 1969 racked up three consecutive .300+ seasons...lead AL
in hits five times...taking over exclusive DH duties for three seasons hit
.291, .285, .270 respectively...robbed of higher numbers because he had lost
all speed similar to Orlando Cepeda...had more knee surgeries after 1975
season....retired mid season 1976...A Minnesota icon and the Minnesota populace vehemently support his
induction to the HOF....achievements of note:hit first DH home run...continued with the Twins in a variety of roles
too numerous to mention....hit from the left side with so much intensity that
the bat flew off his hands sometimes landing in the stands....Has visited his
native Cuba many times....his statue stands at Target Field.